Suspension file element with indicia carrier



Jan. 31, 1961 w. H. FURRER 2,969,793

SUSPENSION FILE ELEMENT WITH INDICIA CARRIER Filed Aug. 18, 1954 i I 7 I I I I 7 g' INVENTOR. u I I I I I I 3 fl/W'Jeege 30 32 32b 23 7 6 l l feA/fe United States Patent C) "fee SUSPENSION FILE ELEMENT wnn INDICIA CARRIER Werner H. Fiirrer, Kusnacht, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Rud. Fiirrer Siihne A.G., Zurich, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Filed Aug. 18, 1954, Ser. No. 450,737

Claims priority, application Switzerland June 18, 1954 1 Claim. (Cl. 129-165) The present invention relates to filing systems such as folders, loose-leaf binders, index cards and the like and in particular to filing systems designed for use in hanging files with lateral reference elements.

The present invention has for its object an improvement in hanging files systems having at least two horizontally arranged supporting rails and one or more upper edges of the filing means equipped with two recesses of different configuration. The recess disposed at the rear is designed for engagement with the rear supporting rail from the rear face, while the front recess is designed for engagement with the front supporting rail from below with the upper edge leading.

In such systems the upper edge of the filing means, which serves for suspension and is equipped with recesses, consist of an elongated, flat rectangular supporting strip of a tough synthetic material. The rear recess for engagement with the supporting rail has larger dimensions in the longitudinal direction than in the direction normal thereto. However, the recess for the front supporting rail is only a little larger than the dimensions of this rail.

The portion in front of the recess for the front supporting rail of the supporting strip is provided with securing means for an indicia carrier to identify the filing system, such as a folder or like suspension element with the imperforate indicia carrier in either a vertical or a horizontal position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a hanging file system in the stage of being assembled, showing a transparent band with perforations to be fitted over an imperforate indicia carrier for detachable engagement by the heads of a stud which is secured to an elongated, flat rectangular strip forming part of a suspension element.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the strip of Fig. l with the transparent band secured to the stud, the band engaging the indicia carrier in one position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the strip similar to that seen in Fig. 2, but with transparent band engaged with the stud and the indicia carrier in another position.

For certain designs of filing systems, it has been found to be advantageous to form the upper edges as supporting strips which may be manufactured separately from other suspension elements of the system. This is suitable for suspension folders and loose-leaf binders, used in a hang ing file system with lateral reference elements, constructed as shown in the drawing and provided with recesses in at least one upper edge for suspension from two parallel rails 13, 14. These supporting strips, which are flat and of elongated, rectangular shape, preferably extend along the entire length of the upper edges of a 1 along the front edge a predetermined distance.

2,969,793 Patented Jan. 31, 1961 depending file folder and are'made from tough nonsplintering material.

Fig. 1 shows a depending file folder 1 supported by and attached to elongated strips 30 supported upon front rail 14 and rear rail 13. A front recess 5 is provided for insetting the front rail 14 during hanging engagement. One of the strips 30 has a front edge 40 intersecting at a right angle with an upper edge 41. Equally spaced from both edges, a stud 32 is secured to the strip 30.

A transparent U-shaped band 35 which has a central wall or web portion 36 interconnecting side wall portions 7, '8 at either side of the central portion, is provided with aligned openings 38 by means of which the band 35 is detachably engageable with projecting heads 32a, 32b of a stud 32 when the band fits over and straddles the strip 30 (Fig. 3).

An imperforate indicia carrier 35a is disposed between the transparent band 35 and a predetermined portion of the strip 3%) at its front end (Fig. 2) or its top end (Fig. 4) so that the entire central wall 36 of the band '35 extends from a corner of strip 30 along the top edge or The indicia carrier 35a has a central wall portion 12 which is narrower than the corresponding portion 36 of the band 35 but wide enough to carry indicia, as displayed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The side wall portions 11 of the carrier 35a extend from the central portion 12 and terminate short of the openings 38 provided in the corresponding wall portions 7, 8 of the band 35.

Arrow 31 in Fig. 1 indicates the direction of assembling band 35 and carrier 35a. The carrier 35a and the band, 35, when retained in assembled condition by the projecting heads 32a, 32b of the stud 32, may be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 or the position shown in Fig. 4.

The carrier 35a and the transparent band 35 may be equally well assembled and selectively positionable upon the strip 30 against the upper edge 41 and extending up to the front edge 4-0 as indicated according to Fig. 4 since the openings-38 of band 35 are engaged with and arranged on the heads of stud 32 which is equidistant from the upper edge 41 and the front edge 40.

Fig. 3 shows the strip 30 in section and provided with stud 32 which has heads 32a, 32b. Fitted upon the strip 30 are first the carrier 35a and then the band 35. The central wall 12 of the carrier abuts against the strip edge as shown, which in this instance, is the front edge 40. A side wall 11 of the carrier 35a is located and retained between the strip 30 and the corresponding band wall 7. The wall 36 of the band covers the corresponding carrier web or central wall 12, as is well understood.

The material of the band may itself be identified by marking, lettering, colouring and the like. In a preferred embodiment the material of the band is transparent and identification is effected by a suitably designed label or carrier between the band and the supporting strip. An example of such lettering on a carrier or label is shown in Fig. 1 on web or end wall 12, as well as on one of the side walls 11, which carrier is dimensioned and designed for the insertion between the band 35 and strip 30, where the carrier is retained in desired position.

It can thus be seen, that there has been provided for use in connection with a hanging file system an elongated fiat and rectangular strip 30, a suspension element 1 secured to said strip 33 and depending therefrom, said strip having a front edge 41) and an upper edge 41, a stud 32 secured to said strip and equally spaced from said front edge 40 and from said upper edge 41, said stud having heads 32a, 32b located on each side of said strip and projecting therebeyond, a transparent U-shaped band 35 having a central wall portion 36 and spaced side wall portions 7, 8.

These side wall portions are interconnected by and extend from said central wall portion 36, said central wall portion in a first position (Fig. 2) lying parallel to said front edge 40 of said strip, said side Wall portions 7, 8 having aligned openings 38 receiving therein said projecting stud heads 32a, 32b thereby to retain said band 35 in said first position with said band straddling and detachably engaging said strip, said openings of said band being spaced from said central wall portion 36 a distance equal to the spacing between said stud 32 and each of said front and upper edges 40, 41, said central wall portion of said band extending in a second position parallel to said upper edge of said strip, and a substantially U-shaped imperforate indicia carrier 35a disposed between said strip 30 and said transparent band 35 and extending along substantially the entire height of and held in place by the latter, while embracing a predetermined portion of said strip 30, said indicia carrier 35a having a central wall portion 12 wide enough to carry indicia and being narrower than the corresponding central wall portion 36 of said band, said central Wall portion 12 of said indicia carrier 35a abutting against said front edge 40 and against said upper edge 41 of said strip 30, selectively, in said first and second positions (Figs. 2, 4). 7

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

In a hanging file system; an elongated flat and rectangular strip, a suspension element secured to said strip and depending therefrom, said strip having a front edge and an upper edge, a stud secured to said strip and equally spaced from said front edge and from said upper edge, said stud having heads located on each side of said strip and projecting therebeyond, a transparent U-shaped band having a central Wall portion and spaced side wall portions interconnected by and extending from said central wall portion, said central wall portion in a first position lying parallel to said front edge of said strip, said wall portions 4 having aligned openings receiving therein said projecting stud heads thereby to retain said band in said first position with said band straddling and detachably engaging said strip, said openings of said band being spaced from said central wall portion a distance equal to the spacing between said stud and each of said front and upper edges, said central wall portion extending parallel to said upper edge of said strip in a second position, and a substantially U-shaped iniperforate indicia carrier disposed between said strip and said transparent band and extending along substantially the entire height of and held in place by the latter, while embracing a predetermined portion of said strip, said indicia carrier having a central Wall portion Wide enough to carry indicia and being narrower than the corresponding central wall portion of said band, said 1 central wall portion of said indicia carrier abutting against said front edge and against said upper edge of said strip, selectively, in said first and second positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,239 Peterson Mar. 24, 1914 1,099,665 Porter June 9, 1914 1,707,756 Burroughs Apr. 2, 1929 1,755,338 Smiley Apr. 22, 1930 1,867,159 Kline July 12, 1932 1,917,980 Kelsey July 11, 1933 2,151,359 Schmitz Mar. 21, 1939 2,368,349 Cornish Jan. 30, 1945 2,432,493 Addington Dec. 16, 1947 2,483,046 Heckert Sept. 27, 1949 2,538,361 Furrer Jan. 16, 1951 2,623,311 Condon Dec. 30, 1952 2,664,089 Meltzer Dec. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 671,783 Germany Feb. 13, 1939 53,503 Netherlands Nov. 16, 1942 509,182 Belgium Feb. 29, 1952 Switzerland Nov. 2, 1953 

